YouTube
No, I didn't get the title wrong. As most people will know, Tears For Fears had topped the US chart in 1985 with 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' (also a massive UK hit) but this is the less remembered re-recording released as the official single for Sport Aid. Big names at the time, TFF had not been directly on Band Aid (though some of the drums on 'Do They Know It's Christmas' are apparently sampled from 'The Hurting') and famously pulled out of Live Aid at the eleventh hour, so they were under pressure from Bob Geldof to contribute something to his latest charity appeal.
Possibly because they were working under duress (and in fairness may not have been given a lot of time for the project) they seem to have made a fairly minimal effort - I'm not sure if it's re-recorded entirely from scratch or just re-vocalled, but the only change to the arrangement is the addition is a very of-its-time brass section. There are no new lyrics save for the two-letter change in the chorus: they simply drop some of the more jarring ones, including the entire second verse which is left instrumental. Their commitment didn't extend to the video, which leaves Midge Ure, Geldof and some celebrity supporters to take their places. It all sounds a bit odd and is not often mentioned these days. In fact, it inadvertently gave Now '86 a minor place in history as for over 25 years it was the only known CD release of this track. This was finally rectified with the latest re-issues of Songs From The Big Chair compiled with assistance from Paul Sinclair of Super Deluxe Edition, who evidently recognised that all the tracks should be available and it is a bit silly to have a Top 5 single unavailable, even if it's not that good. Whilst I'm giving credits, I should also thank A Pop Fan's Dream for posting the details of Now Apostrophe 86.
Also appearing on: Now 16
Available on: Songs From The Big Chair (Deluxe)
No comments:
Post a Comment